whoa...didn't they just pick up a one year option? or am I mistaken?
Yes, Schottenheimer signed a one-year extension. But AJ Smith and Schottenheimer hate each other. Smith originally wanted to replace Schotty with Wade Phillips, but Phillips left for Dallas.
Smith made the best of a bad situation by settling his vendetta and having Schottenheimer fired... after all of the other NFL head coaching vacancies were filled.